Roberto Cutrera

So that’s it! 3 years of university complete. I can't quite believe it myself. I still remember my first day, setting up this blog and then using it to record me working through all modules in first, then second and now 3rd year, showing the journey as I slowly began to develop as a young designer.

It has been an incredible 3 years with countless opportunities, from 2 trips to New York, the six weeks I spent studying in Thailand, winning the DMA Breakthrough award, winning a placement with MoonPig and being able to speak to and listen to so many people in industry. It has honestly been the best 3 years of my life.

Looking back, I am so glad I kept going with this blog. Some people loved it, others hated it - to me, the blog not only kept me organised but it also became my main medium through which I recorded my journey and life a university. I am now able to look back and see the development and work I produced over the last three years.

Its a sad ending but also one where I am so exited to see what the future holds for me as a young designer, ready to enter the big wide world and continue the creative journey.

PDF Submission Document

During the final few weeks leading up to the deadline I began curating and organising my work ready to be placed within a single PDF document that will be used for my assessment.

I completed roughly 60% of it for my final work check and I have been adding the last few remaining projects in since. This week I have spent some time refining the document, ensuring everything that needs to be show is in the document, checking all links work and videos are interactive.

I have now completed the document which means Ive pretty much finished the module! I now want to do one last check of it before I submit!

A quick snapshot of how my space within the grad show will appear - The boards have been velcro’d into place and I ensured the framed piece fits within the space.

I will be able to finish off the space on Wednesday whereby I will be able to place my portfolios and business card within the space to finish it all off.

The end is in sight!

Grad Show Prep Continues

This week sees the grad show build come to an end. A group of us have been working tirelessly for the last two weeks building the rooms and getting them ready to showcase our work.

Knowing where my work is going to be placed within the show and what I have to work with, I claimed a piece of furniture to use as part of the show - a small cube unit that will enable me to house my printed portfolio and a print of mine.

After taking down my exhibition I had my main print re-mounted and framed (as shown above) I then set about building a stand to allow the frame to be placed on the table in a stable manner.

Now Im no carpenter but Im pretty happy with how the stand turned out. I have since painted it white to match the frame!

Its all go go go now!

Grad Show Progress

The boards have been printed, mounted and cut to size and we have been allocated our spots within the show. Im happy with where I am and I now need to just dress the space a little - This will be completed on the morning of my Viva Voca next wednesday!

Heres to having my work reframed and getting collateral all ready!

Yesterday my exhibition came to an end and Ive realised I hadn't written a post about it. At the start of May I set up and curated a small exhibition outside the university print room where my prints that i have produced over the course of major study were shown to the wider university and general public who visit the university.

I am really pleased with how it turned out and the feedback I received was lovely.

The Dean saw my work and even sent out an email to the entire ADM team to encourage them to see the work. It was lovely to hear people complimenting the work!

Gradshow Prep A2 Board

Today I have been working on my secondary A2 Board that will be shown in my graduate show. Ive really struggled with this board, not knowing what work to use.

I have currently used a second print project, mainly because it will show the dynamic use of print and how it has been used for different purposes. I am a little concerns that this ‘shoe horns’ me and narrows down perspective.

I have emailed my tutor with the panels so fair and he has said they are perfect - I have raised my concern with him so hopefully something will be sorted out for this.

At the moment I am ready to submit the collateral required for Mondays hard deadline. I aim to spend the rest of the week finishing off my 1 minute Briefs project and then adding this to my PDF ready for FINAL submission in 2 weeks time.

Gradshow Prep A1 Board

Its scary to think that my degree show is just around the corner. I have been given a hard deadline to submit my degree show boards by next Monday, so I have spent the last day or so looking back over my work to see what work I feel best represents me as a new designer. 

My print work for me stands out, it has become my signature style. Although a little risky, I feel it is right for me.

The above A1 panel features my flagship project for Major Study. The board shows the final outcome, whilst also showing the process behind it.

The board also has a short bio about me and my area of practice. It gives an overview of the brief and the solution behind the project, which is then visually shown through the main imagery. Beneath all of this are my contact details and links to my portfolio and design social media accounts.

This is subject to review and will be finally submitted before Mondays deadline.

Quick Experimentation 2

I love the colours in this image, and it does not appear as washed out. its making me consider if we need to reshoot a few elements of the campaign to get the aesthetic right.

This will now be done after the deadline, as this is an ongoing live brief.

Quick Experimentation 1

Today we received some of the content that we captured last week for the brief we are working on with Alcmy studios.

After looking at the imagery and the copy we created through interviews I quickly mocked up an concept for a print collateral. It needs work but to give a rough idea of how the campaign could potentially look.

Graduate Show

Since spending the day with the team last week, we are unable to meet up with the team before the deadline next week. As a trio we have decided to create a touch version of how we would think the outcomes would look and use this as outcomes for our submission. - We will then carry on working with Alcmy to finish off the project after the deadline.